Circuit-interrupter.



H. D. JAMES.

CIRCUIT INTERHUPTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.18, I911.

Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

INVENTOFE ATTORNEY Henry 0 James WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES rarnn onrroa.

HENRY D JAMES, OF EDGEWOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC 8c MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LA. CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

GIRCUITJNTERRUITEB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

Application filed April 13, 1917. Serial No. 1652,9962.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY D. James, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Edgewood Park, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefullmprovement in Circuit-Interrupters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to circuit interrupters and particularly to circuit, interrupters of the normally-inclosed type.

One object of my invention is to provide means for so relieving the pressure within the circuit-interrupter casing, under predetermined conditions, that the arc, which is drawn when the interrupter opens, is pre eluded from taking an abnormal course.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide means for so positively opening the interrupter casing, prior to the final interruption of the circuit, that the arc may be projected through the opening in the casing. I

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the above-designated character that shall be cheap to construct and effective in its operation.

In practising my invention, I provide stationary and movable contact members that are mounted in a casing having a door therein that is adjacent to the contact members. The door is provided with a cam portion that is adapted to be engaged by a projection on the movable contact member of the interrupter. Thus, when the movable contact member is actuated, the projection engages the cam portion of the door and forces the door open a sufficient interval of time before the arc is broken to permit the same to be projected out through the opening and to preclude the are from jumping between points that are located at a relatively great distance from the main contact members of the interrupter.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a side view, partially in section and partially in elevation of a portion of a circuit interrupter embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a side view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of a circuit interrupter embodying a modified form of my invention.

The circuit interrupter embodying my invention comprises, in general, a casing 1 having a stationary contact member 2 and a movable contact member 3 mounted therem and a sprlng-restrained door 4 that is disposed adjacent to the contact members nected to terminal members 9 and 10 to facilitate securing conductors l1 and 12 there to. An actuating device (not shown) is operatively connected, through a c0nnecting means 13, to the lever arm 7. A blowout coil 14: is disposed adjacent to the contact members 2 and 3 for the purpose of extinguishing the are that is drawn therebetween. The contact members 2 and 8 are provided with arcing tips or horns 15 and 16 that are adapted to force the are outwardly when the contact members are disengaged.

The door a is provided with a spring 17 for normally restraining it in its closed position and has a cam portion 18 on its inner side that is adapted to be engaged by a pro jection 19 which is mounted on the lever arm 7. During the closing movement of the member 3, the projection 19 so engages the cam portion 18 that the door 4% is opened a predetermined period of time before the contact members are engaged. Similarly, when the contact member 8 is moved downwardly, the projection 19 engages the cam portion 18 to cause the door a to be opened a sufficient time before the are, that is drawn between the contact members 2 and 3, is finally broken, for the purpose of so relieving the gaseous pressure in the casing 1 that the arc will not be drawn between the supporting brackets 5 and 8 and to permit it to be forced out through the opening in the casin 1 that is provided when the door 4: is moved to its open position.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings, a member 20 is mounted on the lever arm '2' and has a pawl or cam member 21 mounted at its outer end and normally-restrained in position by a to such position that it does not move the 110 door d. However, when the movable contact member 3 is moved downwardly the member 31 soengages the cam portion 18 of the door l that the door is forced open a predetermined interval of time before the are that is drawn between the contact members 2 and 3 is broken. Thus, the arc is forced outwardly by the blow-out coil 14: and the gaseous pressure within the casing l is so reduced that the arc is precluded from jumping between oints that are located at a relatively great istance from the contact members 2 and 3.

I do not limit my invention to the particular structure illustrated, as it may be variously modified within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a switch, of a casing therefor having a door adjacent to the switch, and means mounted on the movable member of the switch for opening the door for an instant before the switch is opened.

2. The combination with a switch, of a casing therefor having a door adjacent to the switch, and means mounted on the movable member of the switch for opening the door for an instant before the switch is opened and closed.

3. The combination with a switch, of a casing therefor having a normally closed door adjacent to the switch, and means actuated by the movable member of the switch for forcing the door open when the switch is opened.

-1-. The combination with a switch, of an inclosing casing therefor, a door hinged to the casing having a cam portion thereon, and a projection on the movable member of the switch for so engaging the cam portion of the door that the door is opened just before the switch is completely opened.

The combination with a switch, of an inclosing casing therefor, a door hinged to the casing and having a cam portion there on, and means on the movable member of the switch for so engaging the cam portion of the door that the door is opened just before the switch is completely actuated.

6. The combination with a switch, of a casing therefor, a door for the casing disposed adjacent to the contact members of the switch, and means mounted on the movable member of the switch for so opening the door that the pressure within the casing is relieved before the switch is entirely opened.

7. The combination with a switch, of an inclosing casing therefor, and means actuated by the movable member of the switch for opening a portion of the casing just before the switch is opened.

8. The combination with a switch, of an inclosing casing therefor, and means actuated by the movable member of the switch for relieving the pressure within the casing before the switch i completely opened.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 30th day of March, 1917.

HENRY D. JAMES. 

